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Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters blocked Westminster Bridge whereas calling for an instantaneous ceasefire in Gaza.
The Free Palestine Coalition (FPC), made up of grassroots organisations together with Sisters Uncut, Black Lives Matter UK and the Palestinian Youth Movement, staged a sit-in on Saturday in their first main demonstration of the brand new year. Westminster Bridge and the encircling roads have been blocked off following a march.
The location of the demonstration had been stored secret earlier than a gathering location – a consuming fountain in St James’s Park – was introduced at 10am with protesters gathering round noon.
Protesters painted their arms crimson and wore masks with the faces of politicians
(Victoria Jones/PA Wire)
The Metropolitan Police issued an announcement on X saying: “Officers have attempted to speak with the organisers, however they have not shared any information with us about their proposed route.
“This has an impact on how we plan our policing response and means more officers have to be deployed to central London to ensure we can respond quickly.”
Police officers tried to interrupt up the gathering on the consuming fountain in St James’s Park.
After a number of arrests have been made there, protesters marched via Westminster earlier than being stopped by officers subsequent to Big Ben.
A big unit of officers appeared to take away the protest leaders as they introduced the demonstration could be marching to its subsequent location, which the coalition had not but introduced.
The group additionally referred to as for an finish to UK gross sales of arms to Israel
(Victoria Jones/PA Wire)
The remaining protesters pushed again in opposition to the officers, who had shaped a wall alongside Birdcage Walk.
The protesters continued chanting “Shame on you” and “Who do you serve, who do you protect?”
The group marched down Birdcage Walk into Parliament Square the place they stopped site visitors earlier than persevering with to march in direction of Westminster Bridge.
Dozens of cops then shaped a cordon as the gang drew stage with Big Ben, the place a number of protesters pushed via the cordon however have been stopped earlier than reaching Westminster Bridge by extra officers.
Many of the protesters then step by step joined a sit-in that was fenced off on three sides by a police cordon.
Protesters communicate to police as a cordon is put in place in the course of the demonstration
(Victoria Jones/PA Wire)
One demonstrator mentioned: “Demanding a ceasefire is the bare minimum our government must do – it is necessary to end the daily massacres of Palestinians and the further destruction of hospitals, schools, mosques, churches and 70 per cent of all the homes in Gaza.”
A current YouGov ballot confirmed that 76 per cent of Britons help a ceasefire.
A spokesperson for the protestors mentioned: “The FPC has chosen this date, in advance of Parliament returning, to send a strong signal to the UK Government that Palestine is a political priority and that there can be no business as usual.”
The Met Police mentioned on Saturday afternoon: “All protesters have now left the area around Westminster Bridge. Officers remain on-duty in central London and are ready to respond to any further demonstrations.”
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